Month: April 2016

After conducting my research into other infographics, we collaborated as a group to decide which typefaces we could use to make out message clear and give the right connotations. As previously mentioned in my research blog, the figures are usually big and bold, using a sans serif typeface. This makes it easy for the reader to locate the important information. With this in mind, we looked at the following typefaces and their connotations:

Bebas Neue – A bold sans serif typeface, popular amongst typographers, and has been referred to as “the helvetica of the free fonts”. Different weights give clean lines and easy contrast. Elegant shapes and straight to the point look combined with gentle warmth, makes it perfect for web and print.

Chunk Five – I looked at this font as when i researched the history of the typeface, it said it was reminiscent of old American Western woodcuts, broadsides, and newspaper headlines. This link to newspapers was interesting, however the UK audience may not understand the historical context of the typeface. Never the less, the ultra bold slab serif typeface looks great as a display font.

All Over Again – A hand-written like typeface with scribbles around the text. I thought the scribbles might link into the idea of paper, however the scribbles actually distract from the information, and doesn’t look right on the page.

We then looked at what typeface we would use for the lesser information. Bebas Neue is a simple but elegant typeface, so we wanted to match this with a light, balanced typeface. We looked at many different combinations:

Helvetica – designed to be “neutral” this sans serif Grotesque typeface balances well with the stylish, bold bebas. Most importantly, its easy for the reader to read, and therefore the understanding of the fact and design is increased.

Over the period of a week, we sat down with all of our elements and chose a suitable layout for the design. The brief states that the poster should be folded, and of the size of A2. It was important to note that the poster should be folded, to make sure that when we were designing, no information was lost in the fold. This made us think about sections, and how we could display the information in the best possible fashion.

Our initial design split the page into two, with a banner in between with the title of the document. Although this design was practical, it seemed very boring and might not capture our audiences eye as much as we would like.

Our second design uses the world as the natural anchor for the facts to orbit around. We felt the spherical shape of the earth would help us to divide the page appropriately, whilst being able to horizontally fold the poster without any loss of vital information to the reader.

We used the combination of bebas neue and helvetica (variations of different weights)

To begin the design process, I researched other infographics and analysed how effective the information was displayed, and the visual signs and signifiers that aid the audience.

To begin, I looked at this Starbucks infographic displaying a selection of cold brew coffee. I have previously worked on designs promoting a similar product at work, Sandows Cold Brew Coffee. I particularly like the illustration in this design. They’re a simple line sketches give a personal, hand crafted, designed feel. They’re by no means perfect, but clear, big and effective. This poster however is only displaying three products, which is slightly different to the direction we are going with our infographic about paper, which will consist of multiple facts and different sections to divide the information.

I also like the colour scheme, using a stoney beige/light brown as the background. This colour combined with white gives an artisan feel, and is in keeping with the ideologies of the coffee brand. The typography is coloured black and a darker shade of of brown to the background. This darker brown text describes the product, and then links to the colour of the liquid in the illustrations below. This makes it easy for the audience to link the information quickly, almost subconsciously.

The typography is balanced and in keeping with the brand. They have used similar typefaces to the brand, with larger sentences using an italic serif typeface to break the text up. The title uses an “inline” typeface. A similar style typeface used in the brands logo, but with a small white line running directly through the centre.

I also like the small simple digram, showing the ratio of coffee to milk. This makes it really easy to the audience to make an informed choice before ordering. Below this digram are small icons with labels, again making it easy for the reader to understand the poster more clearly.

The infographic below attempts to show the wastage of paper in the USA. This is a lot more like what we hope to produce. The colour scheme of green against a worn stained texture, and brown, which have the connotations of the natural world, and all the controversial topics surrounding it such as deforestation etc.

There are small hints all around the page, but what i really like about this page is how it has used “CRAP” (Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity). This is evident throughout the design, but I want to point out one section which works and makes the design flow. The large fir tree on the landscape makes it easy for the reader to visualise the fact, that is aligned to the left. The scale next to the tree also makes it easy for visualise the size of the tree.

Each digram has its own fact attached to it. Its interesting to note the weights of the typefaces, with the figures being larger and and bolder, in contrast to the light weighted information. Its clear and to the point, easy to follow and portrays the information in the best possible light.

There are key signifiers all around the design, with wild life such as bears and reindeer, native animals to America. This almost plays on the feelings of the audience, knowing the amount of paper they are using is effecting the animals natural habitats.

I really like the colour scheme again in this design, contrasting yellow with with a very dark grey. This gives the design a happy feel, which is what Instagram is all about, being social and having fun. The dark grey gives it a more powerful yet elegant feel.

The design is all about if all the selfies uploaded to Instagram where printed, how high would the stack reach? Well visually you can see the page is divided by the stacked paper, which leads the reader vertically through the design. Theres a strong feeling of rising throughout the design, as the arrows in each section lead you from the bottom to the top.

As the brief states that we are designing for communication arts magazine, I thought it was important to take a look at the style and ethos of the magazine and brand.

Communication Arts is the biggest international trade journal of visual communications. The magazine covers a broad spectrum of mediums, such as graphic design, advertising, photography, illustration, and interactive media.

I was strolling through the gallery on the Communication Arts Magazine, and found this article about packaging that I thought ties in well with our chosen subject of paper. Matt Ebbing designed a “carton” that would show off the special and unique product. The package is made from moulded paper pulp, similar to an egg-carton, that is in the shape of the nested shoes. It’s light, space-saving and made with 100%PCW pulp that is 100% compostable.

Another design that caught my eye was this infographic illustrating what really lies beneath the sea. Its uses key signifiers such as the different shades of blue giving depth to the design, and contrasting white which leaps off the page and catches the audiences eye. The audience associates these colours with the ocean. The reader is guides through facts with a faint white dotted line leading them to the bottom. As the reader gets to the bottom, the shade of blue turns into a almost black, signifying depth of the sea. I think its important to note the amount of facts and figures used, and how they are highlighted and enlarged compared to the rest of the text. This draws the audience in to the exciting fact, and then leads them to further information about that fact.

I also like the typography used, not only in the large title at the top, but throughout the design. There is a clear style throught the design, with large text in a modern typeface with strong contrast between thick and thin strokes, and a sans serif typeface that looks similar to helvetica.

There are small little embellishments around the design, however the designer has used small elements effectively to get the right messages across to the audience.

We were given a brief to think ethically within graphic design. So what does that mean? Well to better understand, we were put into groups and given scenarios on pieces of paper. These included:

A charity has asked you to design a poster however can’t pay you, what do you do?

A client has asked you for an amendment to a design for free as a favour, but you normally charge, what do you do?

The agency you work for has asked you to work on a design that promotes natural fur.

This got us thinking about the real world, and debating in groups made us break each problem into pros and cons, and how we might react to the scenario.

The brief asks us to produce an infographic for Communication Arts Magazine about cultural issues and theories that impact on the creative industry. In our groups, we sat down together and made a mind map of all the different issues surrounding the graphic designers, and how we might represent these issues in a infographic.

We then chose a from the mind map our topic for the infographic. We chose paper and how it impacts the environment, making graphic designers aware of the impact they are having when they are putting “stuff” out in to the world.